Position description
BRIDGE: From secondary education and skills development to job opportunities for refugee and host community youth in Uganda
Consultancy Title 2.1.2.5: Short- Term Consultancy Development of 02 Gender Advocacy Briefs
Reports to: Gender & Inclusion Advisor
Supported by: BRIDGE Project Director, Advocacy & Partnership Lead, Communications Specialist, MEAL Manager and Head of Programs (HOP).
Background:
War Child Canada (WCC) is an international charity organization registered in Toronto, Canada, dedicated to helping children and their communities overcome the devastating effects of active and post war. Its vision is “Accelerating Peace by disrupting the cycle of violence” and its mission is “Driving Generational Change for The Hardest Hit by Investing in The Power of Local Communities.”
War Child Canada has been operating in refugee hosting districts in Uganda since 2005. War Child Canada is registered as an international non- governmental organization (INGO) and holds a registration as a law firm in Uganda. War Child Canada is currently implementing education, protection, and livelihood programs interventions in nine refugee hosting districts in Uganda.
The BRIDGE PROJECT: War Child Canada in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD), Education Local Expertise Uganda (ELECU) and eight refugee-led community- based organizations, is implementing the BRIDGE: From Secondary Education and Skills Development to Job Opportunities for Refugee and Host Community Youth in Uganda project.
The 5-year BRIDGE project (2022 to 2027) is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works Strategy (2018 to 2030) to address the youth unemployment challenge among refugee and host communities in 9 refugee settlement areas in Adjumani, Obongi, Isingiro, Kamwenge, Kikuube, Yumbe, Terego, Madi Okollo and Koboko districts.
War Child Canada and project implementing partners employ a gender sensitive and inclusive approach to programming, empower young people to recognize their potential as agents of change to ensure effective implementation and sustainability of the interventions. This is being achieved through two main outcomes.
- Increased access to market relevant secondary and tertiary education and skills for refugee and host community youth
- Improved capacity of education institutions and teachers to offer quality and relevant education and skills for refugee and host community youth.
BRIDGE ’s overarching program goal is to improve access to quality & relevant education and skills for 73,439 refugee / host community youth and transition 38,912 refugee / host community youth to dignified and fulfilling work in Uganda by 2027.
The gender advocacy briefs:
The BRIDGE project aims to develop and produce two focused gender advocacy briefs that address critical gender equality challenges, in accessing education and employment opportunities for refugees and host community youth. These briefs will present evidence-based arguments to support targeted advocacy efforts aimed at influencing policies, institutional practices, and decision-making processes.
The advocacy briefs will cover:
- Advocacy brief 1: Advancing Girls’ Access to Education
- Advocacy brief 2: Enhancing Girls’ and Women’s Access to Employment
The advocacy briefs are intended to function as strategic instruments to inform and influence policymakers, government institutions, donors, and other key stakeholders in advancing gender-transformative approaches. Each brief should deliver clear, persuasive, and targeted messaging—rooted in robust evidence and grounded in the contextual realities reflected in existing program documentation and relevant literature.
The ultimate objective is to inform and influence key actors to adopt gender-responsive approaches in education and drive systemic change to close the gender gap, particularly in girls’ education and employment
Consultancy summary
Purpose of the consultancy:
This consultancy's main purpose is to develop 02 Gender Advocacy Briefs for Bridge Project.
These briefs are intended as a call to action, raise awareness and influence policy and decision making on critical actions that Education and Gender stakeholders or experts are to enforce and change, while also driving institutional transformations towards a more gender inclusive society.
Advocacy brief 1: Advancing Girls’ Access to Education for refugees and host community youth
Objective: To inform stakeholders on critical barriers and enablers of girls’ education and advocate for gender-responsive education policy and investment.
Key Tasks:
- Desk review existing literature, national education policies and program reports
- Analyze gendered barriers
- Identify good practices
- Consult with key stakeholders (MoES, District, OPM, UNHCR, NGOs, schools, religious leaders, community structures etc)
- Develop 3–5 actionable, evidence-based policy asks with targeted messaging
Advocacy brief 2: Enhancing Girls’ and Women’s Access to Employment for refugees and host community youth
Objective: To highlight the barriers to decent work and economic participation for women and girls and advocate for inclusive, gender-responsive employment strategies and policies and programs that enable equitable access to decent work, skills development, and economic self-reliance
Key tasks.
- Desk review existing literature, policies and program reports
- Identify and categorize the structural, social, legal, and institutional barriers affecting women’s and girls’ participation in the labor market
- Identify the good practices
- Consult with key stakeholders (District, OPM, UNHCR BTVET institutions, Local artisans, NGOs, community structure etc)
- Develop 3–5 actionable, evidence-based policy asks with targeted messaging
Approach and Deliverables:
The consultant/ firm will use a participatory approach, and this process will involve the engagement of project implementing partners, War Child Canada, stakeholders as well as some project participants. War Child Canada team will review and validate all tools designed by the consultant/ firm for the purpose of developing the advocacy briefs.
Each advocacy brief should include the following components:
- Contextual Background:
A concise overview of the most critical gender issues affecting young people, with a focus on challenges such as limited accessibility, persistent gender stereotypes, socio-cultural barriers, and obstacles to public participation—particularly for girls and young women.
- Evidence and Data:
Key statistics, research findings, and case studies—particularly from War Child Canada (WCC) programming—that illustrate the current state of gender-inclusive education and related challenges. All arguments should be grounded in robust evidence to strengthen the credibility of the recommendations.
- Gaps and Challenges:
An analysis of existing gaps in education systems and economic opportunities for youth, with particular emphasis on how these affect young women disproportionately.
- Youth Perspectives:
Insights into the voices and experiences of young people, especially young women, including how they perceive current challenges and how they can be actively engaged in decision-making processes at various levels.
- Advocacy and Programming Recommendations:
Clear, actionable recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to strengthen gender-transformative education and livelihood opportunities. All recommendations should follow the SMART criteria—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Key Responsibilities
The consultant/firm will be responsible for the following:
- Conduct a rapid gender analysis in collaboration with War Child Canada (WCC) project staff to deepen understanding of the prevailing gender issues influencing project implementation.
- Review and synthesize existing reports, case studies, and literature—including internal WCC documents and external sources—to develop evidence-based arguments to support the targeted advocacy efforts.
- Facilitate a collaborative workshop with WCC staff and key stakeholders to co-develop the content and recommendations for the advocacy briefs.
- Provide technical guidance and quality control throughout the process to ensure the development of high-quality, evidence-based, and contextually relevant policy briefs.
- Ensure all draft outputs are validated in a participatory manner that reflects input from relevant stakeholders.
Deliverables and Timeline
A. Pre-Activity Phase
- Draft Inception Report (within 5 working days of contract signing):
A detailed plan outlining the proposed methodology, tools, expected outputs, budget breakdown, and work plan for the assignment.
- Final Inception Report (following WCC feedback):
A revised version incorporating comments and suggestions from WCC and partners, including finalized timelines and activities.
B. Activity Implementation Phase
- Rapid Gender Analysis Summary:
Findings from consultations with project staff on key gender dynamics impacting current interventions.
- Desk Review Summary:
A synthesis of key findings from reviewed reports, case studies, and relevant literature, identifying critical issues and advocacy entry points.
- Workshop Facilitation:
A participatory workshop with WCC staff to inform the development of the two advocacy briefs:
- The role of institutions in facilitating gender-transformative education and addressing gender gaps.
- The impact of socio-cultural dynamics impeding gender transformation for youth.
- Draft Advocacy Briefs (within 15 working days from contract start):
Submission of the first drafts of both advocacy briefs for review by WCC and partners. Each brief should be no longer than five pages, concise, and evidence based.
- Final Advocacy Briefs (within 5 working days after receiving feedback):
Submission of finalized briefs, incorporating all comments and recommendations from WCC and partners.
C. Post-Activity Phase
- Final Consultancy Report (within 5 working days of final deliverables):
A comprehensive report summarizing the consultancy process, key findings, outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned. Relevant materials, including workshop tools, summaries, and supporting documents, should be annexed.
Responsibility of War Child Canada and Partner
War Child Canada will be responsible for the following.
- Provide the necessary technical expertise, project knowledge, and support to the consultant/ firm throughout the execution of the assignment. This includes clarifying requirements, providing data, reports and resources, and collaborating with the consultant and mobilize other individuals to deliver the set objectives resulting into 02 gender advocacy briefs.
- Mobilize participants required for the development of different policies.
- All workshop related costs shall be taken care of by War Child Canada
Scope of work and timeline
This assignment will be conducted in Uganda. The assignment is expected to take a maximum of 40 working days beginning on 22nd July 2025. The final assignment report and all other deliverables should be submitted to War child Canada by 5th September 2025.
Experience & skills
War Child Canada is looking for a competent firm/individual with skills, knowledge, and proven experience in facilitating and developing gender advocacy briefs in development and humanitarian settings. The consulting firm / consultant must have experience working with Civil Society Organizations, Community Based Organizations and or Refugee Led Organizations. Applications from consulting firms will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate the following qualifications, experiences, and competencies:
- Team members/ a consultant with a Post-Graduate University Degree in Gender studies, Social Sciences, Development studies, or any other related discipline.
- Good knowledge and understanding of the current discourse and discussions on social Protection from a gender perspective.
- Good understanding of broader African feminist discourse including global, regional and national commitments to women’s economic empowerment and poverty eradication.
- Excellent communication skills with experience in writing precise communication materials for advocacy/ policy influencing.
- The consultant/ consulting firm should have a minimum of 5-7 years of demonstrated professional work experience conducting the same assignments for Civil Society Organizations.
- Knowledge and experience in using participatory facilitation approaches and innovative techniques, and organizational leadership.
- Excellent analytical, facilitation, coaching and report writing skills.
- Strong English language skills required.
- Excellent analytical, presentation, publishing and report writing skills.
Application instructions
Interested applicants/firms are invited to submit the following:
- Technical proposal including methodology, timeline, and demonstration of experience (7-10 pages’ maximum)
- Financial proposal (itemized budget)
- Curriculum vitae of Lead consultants and other members.
- Confirmation of availability (July to September 2025).
Submit your technical and financial proposals as one document to email.
Please ensure your submission email has the subject heading: “Uganda BRIDGE BID for developing Gender Advocacy Briefs’’.
Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on Globaljobs.org
